Russia-Ukraine latest news: Missile strikes Kharkiv government building

Russian missiles hit the centre of Kharkiv this morning, including residential areas and the city’s regional government building.

At least six people were injured in the blasts, including a child, according to local government officials.

Regional head Oleg Synegubov said Russia launched Grad and cruise missiles on Kharkiv and was guilty of war crimes. But he said the city’s defences were holding.

It comes as Ukraine’s ambassador to the US says Russia used a banned “vacuum bomb” on Monday.

Oksana Markarova appealed to members of US Congress for more help as her country resists a “brutal war”.

“They used the vacuum bomb today, which is actually prohibited by the Geneva convention,” she said. “The devastation that Russia is trying to inflict on Ukraine is large.”

Follow the latest updates below.

09:05 AM

UK sanctions Russia’s largest lender Sberbank

The Treasury has announced it is adding top lender Sberbank to its list of Russian entities sanctioned over the invasion of Ukraine.

The move comes after the government on Monday said it would freeze the UK assets of all Russian banks, and ordered British ports to turn away Russian ships.

09:02 AM

The children of Ukraine

08:58 AM

Volodymyr Zelenksy thanks Cambridge’s for support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for their support amid the Russian invasion.

“Olena and I are grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that, at this crucial time, when Ukraine is courageously opposing Russia’s invasion, they stand by our country and support our brave citizens,” he tweeted.

“Good will triumph.”

08:55 AM

Story continues

Alexander Lukashenko says Minsk won’t join Russian operation in Ukraine

Belarus has no plans to join Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was quoted as saying.

Mr Lukashenko denied Kyiv’s allegations that Russian troops were attacking Ukraine from Belarus’ territory, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported.

08:29 AM

Vladimir Putin has ‘blood on his hands’, Liz Truss to tell UN Human Rights Council

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is embarking on a diplomatic mission as she prepares to address the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The Cabinet minister is expected to tell the council that Mr Putin has “blood on his hands” and that he has been “murdering Ukrainians indiscriminately”.

“Putin is violating international law… he is violating human rights on an industrial scale and the world will not stand for it,” Ms Truss is expected to say in a speech urging the West to “isolate” Russia as a result of the war it has instigated.

The comments are due to be made only 24 hours after Moscow suggested it had put the Russian nuclear deterrent on high alert in response to unspecified comments made by Ms Truss.

08:21 AM

Dominc Raab refuses to rule out supplying fighter jets

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab did not rule out supplying Ukraine with fighter jets to defend itself against Russia.

Mr Raab told LBC radio: “I can’t comment on that. We’ve been clear that we’ve provided training, we’ve provided anti-tank weapons and all I would say is nothing is off the table.”

Mr Raab has also said Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich should denounce Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine.

Asked if the billionaire could be key to negotiations, Mr Raab told LBC radio: “Who knows? I would say this, first of all, I think the prospect of diplomacy at the moment is slim but we must always make sure that we keep the door to a diplomatic resolution open.

“It’s also true to say that the financiers who are close to Putin, the oligarchs and the like, are often one of the most important points of leverage and that’s where our sanctions have been directed and targeted.”

Asked if Mr Abramovich should denounce the Russian president, Mr Raab said: “I think every right thinking person should denounce what Putin has done.”

08:06 AM

Russian missiles hit Kharkiv government buildings

Kharkiv region head Oleg Synegubov has said Russian missile attacks hit the centre of Ukraine’s second-largest city, including residential areas and the city administration building, as Moscow started day six of its invasion.

Mr Synegubov said Russia launched Grad and cruise missiles on Kharkiv and was guilty of war crimes. He said the city defences were holding.

Wearing a flak jacket and a helmet, Mr Synegubov said in a video posted on social media that it was too early to know the number of casualties.

He shared a video showing Kharkiv regional administration building being hit by a missile and exploding.

07:56 AM

Vladimir Putin could respond to resistance with ‘even more barbaric tactics’

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab warned Vladimir Putin could respond to resistance in Ukraine with “even more barbaric tactics”.

He told Sky News: “We know that Putin will react to this, or we fear that he will react to this, with even more barbaric tactics, that’s why we must be prepared that this could be a long haul.

The former foreign secretary added: “This is turning into a much, much more perilous misadventure for Putin than I think he realised and it has a demoralised effect on Russia forces and it has had the effect of steeling the will of the Ukrainian people.

“That’s how we will ensure Putin fails in Ukraine and we’re there for the long haul.”

07:46 AM

Those behind war crimes in Ukraine will be held to account – Dominic Raab

Britain’s deputy prime minister has said that anyone engaging in war crimes in Ukraine would be held to account.

“This is turning into a much much more perilous misadventure for Putin than I think he realised,” Dominic Raab told Sky News.

“I think we’ve been very clear that those that engage in war crimes will be held to account.”

Mr Raab added that Britain would not seek to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine, and said that the conflict would not be over even if Russia managed to occupy Kyiv.

07:42 AM

Boris Johnson flies to Poland

The Prime Minister is currently en route to Poland.

Boris Johnson is heading to Nato’s border with Russia , pledging that Vladimir Putin will “feel the consequences” for invading Ukraine.

Mr Johnson will meet counterparts in Poland and Estonia and visit British troops as he pushes for Western unity in punishing the Russian president for starting a conflict that has taken “hundreds” of lives in only five days.

07:37 AM

Chechnya leader says his fighters killed in Ukraine

The strongman leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has said that Chechens have been killed in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, there are already losses among the natives of the Chechen Republic. Two died, six more were injured to varying degrees,” Mr Kadyrov said on Telegram.

Mr Kadyrov, in charge of Russia’s Chechnya Republic which he governs de-facto by his own set of rules, has posted videos of Chechen fighters in Ukraine.

On Tuesday, he posted one of a Chechen fighter with Russian tanks rolling by. Mr Kadyrov said the killed Chechen fighters “chose to become heroes.”

“Yes, they kill in war and that was their choice of profession,” he said.

He claimed that “they had an order to minimise losses among the civilian population of Ukraine.”

07:26 AM

Satellite images show advance on Kyiv

07:17 AM

Latest update from the MoD

Russian forces have made “little progress” in their advance on Kyiv over the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

In an intelligence update posted to Twitter on Tuesday morning, MoD stated that this was likely due to “logistical difficulties”.

The Department added: “Russian forces have increased their use of artillery north of Kyiv and in vicinities of Kharkiv and Chernihiv.

“The use of heavy artillery in densely populated urban areas greatly increases the risk of civilian casualties.

“Russia has failed to gain control of the airspace over Ukraine prompting a shift to night operations in an attempt to reduce their losses”.

07:09 AM

Russia shifts to night operations to reduce losses, says UK

UK intelligence says Russia has failed to gain control of airspace over Ukraine, prompting a shift to night operations to reduce their losses.

Russia on Tuesday faced increasing isolation over its invasion of Ukraine, with fierce resistance on the ground denying President Vladimir Putin decisive early gains despite heavy shelling and a huge military convoy outside the capital.

Ukrainian officials reported a Russian bombardment of Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city, had killed dozens of civilians. It was not possible to independently verify the casualty figures.

“Barbaric rocket attacks and MLRS (multiple launch rocket systems) of peaceful cities are evidence that they are no longer able to fight armed Ukrainians,” Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Facebook.

07:00 AM

Putin loses his taekwondo black belt

Russian President Vladimir Putin had his honorary black belt in taekwondo revoked by the sport’s international governing body on Tuesday, over his country’s invasion of Ukraine.

World Taekwondo said Moscow’s actions went against the sport’s vision: “Peace is more precious than triumph.”

It said official taekwondo events would not be organised in Russia or Belarus.

In line with the IOC’s urging, the flags and anthems of both countries will also not be displayed or played at taekwondo events around the world.

“World Taekwondo’s thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and we hope for a peaceful and immediate end to this war,” it said.

06:52 AM

Kharkiv building destroyed, according to reports

There are unconfirmed video reports that a local government building has been struck in a Russian attack in Kharkiv:

06:43 AM

‘No one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful people’

In a late-night address on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in five days Russian forces had launched 56 missile strikes and 113 cruise missiles in Ukraine.

He added: “Today, Russian forces brutally fired on Kharkiv from jet artillery. It was clearly a war crime.

“Kharkiv is a peaceful city, there are peaceful residential areas, no military facilities. Dozens of eyewitness accounts prove that this is not a single false volley, but deliberate destruction of people: the Russians knew where they were shooting.”

“There will definitely be an international tribunal for this crime – it’s a violation of all conventions. No one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people,” he said.

06:39 AM

‘There is no debate – these are war crimes’

Ukraine’s UN representative, Sergiy Kyslytsya, told the Security Council that Kyiv was “sitting within Russian crosshairs right now” and that 352 people, including 16 children, had been killed as of Monday in the fighting.

He accused Moscow’s troops of attacking hospitals and ambulances in a determination to “kill civilians”, adding: “There is no debate. These are war crimes.”

But Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian UN permanent representative, said his country’s armed forces did “not have the goal of occupying Ukraine or harming the local population”.

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he plans to open an investigation “as rapidly as possible” into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

06:37 AM

Ukraine on the brink of ‘humanitarian catastrophe’

Ukraine is on the brink of a “humanitarian catastrophe”, Britain’s UN Ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward has warned an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

As Russia continues its assault on the eastern European country, Dame Barbara was among those at the UN to accuse the Kremlin of launching “indiscriminate attacks against men, women and children” and violating international humanitarian law.

She said: “As a result of President Putin’s decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a country of 44 million people is now on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe.

“Missiles have rained down on Kharkiv, with cluster munitions hitting residential areas and injuring residents. Disruption to supply chains has caused food shortages in Kramatorsk.

“The reckless bombing of an oil depot in Vasylkiv, has unleashed toxic fumes in nearby communities.

“Violence in Kyiv has forced people to seek refuge underground, with many thousands, including the elderly and disabled, unable to evacuate.”

The UK permanent representative to the UN told the Security Council that “hundreds of civilians had been killed as a result of the Russian invasion” and seven million people had been displaced, with the figure “rising exponentially”.

06:03 AM

Maternity hospital under attack

A maternity hospital was evacuated after being hit by Russian forces.

Vitaliy Girin, the hospital’s chief executive, said that the hospital building in the village of Buzova on the Zhytomyr highway near Kyiv was damaged in the attack.

“The damage is huge, but the building is standing,” he said.

05:57 AM

Taiwan joins moves to block Russian banks

Taiwan will join moves to block some Russian banks from the Swift international payments system, Su Tseng-chang, its prime minister, confirmed on Tuesday.

The premier said Taiwan was in lock-step with its democratic partners around the world on its sanctions decision, adding that the Government would “cooperate” on what Western countries have decided on Swift.

The move is largely symbolic as Taiwan’s trade with Russia is minimal, but Taipei has already said that chip companies in the influential national semiconductor industry are complying with export controls to Russia.

Wang Mei-hua, the economy minister, said that under the ministry’s controls if there is “no good reason” for chip exports to Russia then they won’t be permitted. Taiwan dominates the global supply of semiconductors that are vital for cars, electronics and household items.

Earlier on Tuesday, the foreign ministry announced it would be sending 27 tonnes of medical aid to Ukraine.

Democratic Taiwan has been vocally supportive of Ukraine’s autonomy since Russia invaded last week. The island of 23.5 million faces its own threat from neighbouring China, where the ruling Communist party lays claim to Taiwan as its own territory, even though it has never ruled there.

05:36 AM

Battle for Kyiv: Latest news from Ukraine overnight

• The Russian army has been regrouping its forces over the past 24 hours “primarily to encircle and take control of Kyiv and other major cities”

• Ukraine’s ambassador to the US says Russia used a vacuum bomb on Monday in its invasion of Ukraine

• Kharkiv’s mayor Igor Terekhov warned that Moscow’s armoured vehicles and tanks are “everywhere around the city” and that Russian forces killed several civilians including children late on Monday

• More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed after Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kyiv, the head of the region claims

• Australia will provide Ukraine with $50 million in missiles, ammunition and other military hardware

• Markets paused for breath on Tuesday, after days of volatility

05:23 AM

Tanks are everywhere around the city: Kharkiv mayor

A huge Russian military convoy is on the outskirts of Ukraine’s capital as fears grow that the invading forces are set to launch devastating assaults aimed at taking control of Kyiv and other major cities.

Satellite images showed a long build-up of armoured vehicles and artillery starting 18 miles (29km) north of the city.

The Russian army has been regrouping its forces over the past 24 hours “primarily to encircle and take control of Kyiv and other major cities”, the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces wrote on Facebook.

The column is more than 65 kilometres long and covers the entire road from near Antonov airport outside Kyiv to the town of Prybirsk.

“Some vehicles are spaced fairly far apart while in other sections military equipment and units are travelling two or three vehicles abreast on the road,” US satellite imaging company Maxar said.

The images also showed “additional ground forces deployments and ground attack helicopter units” in southern Belarus near the Ukraine border.

Eastern city Kharkiv’s mayor Igor Terekhov warned that Moscow’s armoured vehicles and tanks are “everywhere around the city”.

Russian forces killed several civilians including children late on Monday, he said.

04:57 AM

More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers killed in Okhtyrka

More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed after Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kyiv, the head of the region wrote on Telegram.

Dmytro Zhyvytsky posted photographs of the charred shell of a four-storey building and rescuers searching rubble.

In a later Facebook post, he said many Russian soldiers and some local residents also were killed during the fighting on Sunday.

The report could not immediately be confirmed.

03:30 AM

‘We’re talking missiles … ammunition’ – Australia’s $50m commitment to Ukraine

Australia will provide Ukraine with $50 million in missiles, ammunition and other military hardware to fight Russian invaders.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday elaborated on his country’s plans after revealing a day earlier that his government would provide Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky with lethal military equipment. Mr Morrison promised only non-lethal military equipment last week.

“President Zelensky said: ‘Don’t give me a ride, give me ammunition,’ and that’s exactly what the Australian Government has agreed to do,” Mr Morrison said.

Australia had committed $50 million to provide both lethal and non-lethal defensive support for Ukraine through NATO.

“The overwhelming majority of that … will be in the lethal category,” Mr Morrison said.

“We’re talking missiles, we’re talking ammunition, we’re talking supporting them in their defence of their own homeland in Ukraine and we’ll be doing that in partnership with NATO.

“I’m not going to go into the specifics of that because I don’t plan to give the Russian Government a heads up about what’s coming their way, but I can assure them it is coming your way.”

03:10 AM

Shares steady as investors draw breath

Markets paused for breath on Tuesday, after days of volatility with Asian shares edging up and gold slipping slightly as investors watched the conflict in Ukraine unfold and weighed its economic implications – notably regarding energy prices.

Global share markets have tumbled in recent days following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and western allies’ ramping up of sanctions including cutting off some of Russia’s banks from the Swift financial network and limiting Moscow’s ability to deploy its $630 billion foreign reserves.

High-level talks between Kyiv and Moscow last night ended with no agreement except to keep talking, but Asian markets stabilised on signs of no immediate escalation of sanctions.

02:43 AM

US stores urged to remove Russian products from shelves

Some American governors are taking matters into their own hands and imposing economic sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine.

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott asked members of the Restaurant Association, Package Stores Association and retailers to “voluntarily remove all Russian products from their shelves”.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine directed the state’s Commerce Department to cease the purchase and sale of Russian Standard, the only Russian vodka sold in Ohio (under the brand names Green Mark and Russian Standard).

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed an executive order requiring state liquor outlets to remove Russian-made and branded alcohol, as did Utah Governor Spencer Cox.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf on Sunday asked the Liquor Control Board to remove Russian-sourced products from stores in the commonwealth. The board said all Russian-made products would be removed from store shelves as a show of solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine.

02:31 AM

Mastercard blocks Russian financial institutions

Mastercard has blocked multiple financial institutions from the Mastercard payment network as a result of sanction orders on Russia.

It will continue to work with regulators to abide fully by compliance obligations, the company said.

02:15 AM

UAE urges ceasefire and peaceful resolution

The United Arab Emirates mission to the United Nations reiterated the importance of working to reach an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and seeking peaceful solutions that serve regional and international security and stability, the Mission said in a twitter post early on Tuesday.

“We deplore the ongoing violence in Ukraine and reiterate the need for restraint, a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” the mission said.

01:49 AM

Canada orders Russian flights out of its airspace

Canada has ordered two Russian flights out of its airspace after the aircraft, which identified themselves as “humanitarian” flights, violated a ban on Russian aircraft, air-traffic control service said.

Canada banned Russian planes from entering its airspace starting on Sunday as part of severe sanctions imposed on Moscow in response to its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

But the same day, an Aeroflot flight AFL111 violated the ban after declaring itself as a humanitarian flight. Under normal circumstances, Canada’s air-traffic control service NAV Canada does not have the authority to deny airspace access to an aircraft declaring itself a humanitarian flight.

The other Russian plane that attempted to enter Canadian airspace had departed from US airports.

NAV Canada along with regulator Transport Canada has issued a directive to all air-traffic control units to deny all identifiable Russian planes access to their airspace. The only exception to this ban is a prior approval by Transport Canada.

In case of another violation, NAV Canada will direct the offending plane to the closest airport and notify the regulator, to be immediately reported to Canada’s Air Defence Sector and the regulator.

01:45 AM

Russians advance on Kyiv: What’s happening on the ground

• Kyiv’s outgunned but determined troops slowed Russia’s advance and held on to the capital and other key cities

• The US says the invasion has been more difficult than the Kremlin envisioned, though that could change as Moscow adapts. Russia still lacks control of Ukrainian airspace

• As talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations wrapped up near the Belarusian border, several blasts could be heard in Kyiv itself

• A Russian military convoy consisting of hundreds of armoured vehicles, tanks, artillery and support vehicles was no more than 17 miles (25km) from Kyiv’s city centre, according to satellite imagery from Maxar

• The convoy was believed to be 17 miles (25km) long, but additional satellite imagery showed it stretching for 40 miles. Maxar said newer images covered a wider area and were less obscured by clouds.

• Several homes and other buildings were seen burning near roads where the convoy is travelling

01:37 AM

Taiwan sends 27 tonnes of medical supplies

Taiwan has sent 27 tonnes of medical supplies to Ukraine.

The Taiwanese government said on Tuesday that it was extending a helping hand as a member of the “democratic camp” in the international community.

Taiwan has joined with Western allies in putting sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and expressed cross-party sympathy for the Ukrainian people, seeing parallels with what Taipei views as Beijing’s threats against the island.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the supplies left on Monday night on a flight to Frankfurt and would be sent to Ukraine via “appropriate routes and channels”.

01:03 AM

Disney boycotts Russia

The Walt Disney Company says it is pausing the theatrical release of its films in Russia in response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

The company also said it would work with its NGO partners to provide “urgent aide and other humanitarian assistance” to refugees.

It comes as conflict continues to rage across the region, with thousands of Ukrainian citizens forced to flee their homes across the country’s borders.

Fighting has been ongoing for several days, following the commencement of military operations by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Disney said future business decisions in Russia would be based on “the evolving situation”.

12:53 AM

Russia convoy may actually be 40 miles long

Satellite images taken on Monday show a Russian military convoy north of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv that stretches for about 40 miles (64 km), substantially longer than the 17 miles (27 km) reported earlier in the day, a US company has said.

Maxar Technologies also said additional ground forces deployments and ground attack helicopter units were seen in southern Belarus, less than 20 miles north of the Ukraine border.

12:41 AM

Ukraine foreign minister says US promised more help

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday morning that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had offered his country, which is under attack from its neighbour Russia, more support in the form of sanctions and weapons.

“In our call, Secretary Blinken affirmed that the US support for Ukraine remains unfaltering,” Mr Kuleba said on Twitter.

“I underscored that Ukraine craves for peace, but as long as we are under Russia’s assault we need more sanctions and weapons. Secretary assured me of both. We coordinated further steps.”

12:39 AM

Russian military convoy north of Kyiv stretches for 40 miles

Satellite images taken on Monday show a Russian military convoy north of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv that stretches for about 40 miles (64km), substantially longer than the 17 miles (27km) reported earlier in the day.

Maxar Technologies said additional ground force deployments and ground attack helicopter units were seen in southern Belarus, less than 20 miles (32km) north of the Ukraine border.

12:37 AM

Sanctions compound airline industry woes

Airlines are bracing for potentially lengthy blockages of key east-west flight corridors after the European Union and Moscow issued tit-for-tat airspace bans and Washington did not rule out similar action in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Industry officials said the Biden administration would ban Russia from US airspace. The White House said on Monday that although barring Russian flights was not off the table, it had yet to make a decision.

Senator Dick Durbin voiced his support for the ban: “Other countries have done it in Europe and turning the lights out at the airport on those guys isn’t a bad idea.”

A European official said the EU had full confidence Washington would follow suit.

12:35 AM

Today’s top stories

• Vladimir Putin has been accused of war crimes after the indiscriminate shelling of Ukrainian cities killed potentially dozens of civilians including three children who were “incinerated alive”

• The White House on Monday reacted coolly to a proposal by Volodymyr Zelensky for a no-fly zone for Russian flights over Ukraine, saying US participation in such a move would be tantamount to a direct conflict with Moscow

• The British Army will on Tuesday warn soldiers not to travel to Ukraine to take up arms as it risks triggering a major escalation in the conflict

• Britain will allow 100,000 extra Ukrainians with immediate family in the UK to come to the country in the wake of the Russian invasion

• Russians are fleeing to the West in what may be their last chance before a new Iron Curtain falls, with some desperately walking across borders in the middle of the night

• British-made anti-tank weapons, Turkish drones and even commercial satellites have helped Ukraine score a series of unexpected battlefield victories against Russia’s massive army